New Japan Pro Wrestling is back in the United States, folks!
Strong Style Evolved follows up on last year’s G1 Special in USA shows and while it’s lost one of its original marquee matches due to Rey Mysterio’s bicep injury, it’s still got a lot going for it. Not least, of course, the clash between the Golden Lovers and the Young Bucks, but also Jay White defending the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Hangman Page, and a variety of New Japan’s trademark undercard tags, most excitingly the comedy dream team of Chuckie T & Toru Yano against Killer Elite Squad and a Chaos/Suzuki-gun tag that’s a preview of the Sakura Genesis main event between Kazuchika Okada and Zack Sabre, Jr.
Today’s action takes place in Long Beach’s Walter Pyramid, kicking off at a completely-reasonable 8PM Eastern / 5PM Pacific since we’re in the US for this one and all, and you can watch live on AXS TV in North America and on NJPW World in the rest of the world.
Chaos (Rocky Romero, SHO, & YOH) over SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, & Scorpio Sky) by pinfall with 3K from Roppongi 3K on Sky.
David Finlay & Juice Robinson over Chaos (Gedo & Hirooki Goto) by pinfall with a Stunner from Finlay on Gedo.
Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith, Jr. & Lance Archer) over Chaos (Chuckie T & Toru Yano) by pinfall with Killer Bomb on Chuck.
Cody Rhodes cuts a prematch promo about how there’s not going to be a match because Bullet Club are friends and whatnot. Tanga Loa offers up a contrary position that they are not going to deny the good people of Long Beach a match tonight and this match will be happening. Cody punches him in the face and we’re off!
Bullet Club (Cody Rhodes & Marty Scurll) over Guerrillas of Destiny (Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa) by pinfall with Cross Rhodes from Cody on Loa.
Los Ingobernables de Japon (BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi, SANADA, & Tetsuya Naito) over Dragon Lee, Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA, & Ryusuke Taguchi by pinfall with Destino from Naito on Taguchi.
Rey Mysterio, Jr. comes out and addresses the crowd. He says he wanted to apologize face to face and unfortunately accidents happen and he suffered a torn bicep in his left arm two weeks ago, calling his match off. But that doesn’t mean it’s not gonna happen in the future, and he gives us his word that he’ll be back as soon as he’s ready, and he will wrestle for New Japan.
Will Ospreay over Jushin Liger by pinfall with the OsCutter.
Post-match, Ospreay cuts a promo putting Liger over by saying he’d be so proud to wrestle as well as he does at the age of 53 and he thanks him for everything he’s done, past, present, and future. He talks about how he wanted to carve out his own legacy with the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship, and to do that he has to go through legends, and he’s no one’s replacement... and he wants Rey in a NJPW ring!
But Marty Scurll attacks from behind! Rey tries to make the save and Marty rips his mask off and puts it on his own head!
Suzuki-gun (Minoru Suzuki & Zack Sabre, Jr.) over Chaos (Kazuchika Okada & Tomohiro Ishii) by submission with something wacky from Sabre on Ishii.
Post-match, ZSJ puts an octopus hold on Okada to send a message and he and Suzuki brutalize referee Marty Asami for fun after.
New Japan announces a US return on July 7, for G1 Special in San Francisco: Fighting Spirit Unleashed, and the show is happening at the legendary Cow Palace!
Jay White (c) over Hangman Page by pinfall with Blade Runner to retain the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.
Post-match, David Finlay attacks White out of nowhere with a spear! He says he’s not gonna stop fighting him and is going to challenge for the title on April 24 at Korakuen Hall.
Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) over Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) by pinfall with Golden Trigger on Matt.
After the match, Cody comes down to berate the Bucks for losing, which brings the Golden Lovers back down to run him off. Omega offers a hand in friendship to the Bucks, which Nick accepts and Matt rejects, before cutting a promo about how the Golden Lovers are here to stay and how he’s going to kick the poop out of Rhodes.
Enjoy the show!